Garden implement



T. C. STRAWN GARDEN IMPLEMENT April 1, 1930.

INVENTOR. 9 3 7710mm; Sfraw? Filed Oct. 1927 A TTORNEYS presently explained. It is provided at its tion of said member. Said tongues project Patented Apr. 1, 1930 1,752,467

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS C. STRA WN, OF SALEM, OHIO GARDEN IMPLEMENT Application filed October 3, 1927. Serial No. 223,525.

This invention as indicated relates to a and a pair of upwardly extending side memgarden implement. More particularly it comhers 7, through the upper ends of which the prises an implement which is adaptable for ends of the pin 8, supporting the grip sechandling of plants and may be used as a weed tion 5, engage. A metal ferrule 9 is pref- 5 pulling implement or as a means of setting erably engaged with the upper end of the staff out plants such as cabbage and .tomato plants to form a guide for an operating rod 10 which and various flowers. The principal object is adapted to be engaged within the central of the invention is to provide an improved bore of said staff. The upper end 11 of said implement of the type indicated which will operatin rod is preferably screw-threaded l0 permit the user to handle plants without and engaged through a central aperture in a stooping to an uncomfortable position and to movable grip member 12 positioned parallel accomplish more work in a garden in a limitto the grip section 5. The movable grip ed time than can be accomplished by means member preferably is formed of sheet metal of the usual implements which require a bent to semi-cylindrical form with its concave kneeling posture to carry on the work. Other portion disposed toward the grip section 5. (I and further objects of the invention will ap- The ends of said member are preferably of pear in the course of the following d'escripsomewhat greater length than the body portion. To the accomplishment of the foretion thereof'and comprise marginal portions going and related ends, said invention, then, folded over metal bars to make the same more I consists of the means hereinafter fully derigid. These projecting end portions 13 of scribed and particularly pointed out in the the removable grip member serve as guides claims. by coacting with the marginal edges of the The annexed drawing and the following demetal side portions 6. scription set forth in detail certain mecha- The lower end of the staff is provided with nism embodying the invention, such disclosed a stationary scoop-like jaw member 14 having means constituting, however, but one of varia pointed lower portion 15 and a sleeve-like ous mechanical forms in which the principle upper portion 16, said upper portion terof the invention may be used. minating in a pair of rearwardly extending In said annexed drawing: flanges 17 and forming an integral split col- Fi 1 i a sid elevation of an implement lar. Said flanges are eachperforated at two embodying the features of my invention; points to receive clamping bolts 18 and 19. 2 and 3 are central vertical sectional The lower clamping bolt 19 serves not only Views of the upper and lower portions rethe function of clamping the sleeve upon the spectively of the device shown in Fig. 1; Figs. staff, but. also acts as a pivot pin for a ,mov-

4 and 5 are views similar to 2 and 8 taken at able ja 21. right angles to the position shown in Figs. The movable jaw as is more clearly shown 1 to 3; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional in Fig. 5 of the drawing, is preferably formed view in the plane of the pivot pin for the movof a sect-ion of sheet metal folded to substanable jaw. I tially semi-spherical shape adjacent its lower 10 In the form of the invention illustrated, end and shaped to provide asharpened scoopthe staff 1 is preferably formed of wood and like terminal 22 and formed with a flattened provided with central bore 2 communicating extension at its upper end, being provided with a countersunk recess 3 adjacent its lower with elongated tongues 23 adjacent its upper end to serve as a spring housing as will be end folded reversely upon the flattened porupper end with a shovel type handle 4 having rearwardly of the body portion of said mema wooden grip section 5 and a support prefher and are provided with a central aperture crably formed of stamped sheet metal and 2% adapted to be engaged over the clamping providing a tubular shank 6 adapted to be bolt 19.,Tl1e flattened body portion adjacent firmly secured to the upper end of the staff, its opposite end is provided with an aperture substantially in alignment with the central bore of the staff and the lower end 26 of the operating rod 10 is adapted to be formed into a loop engaged through said opening A coiled spring 27 is housed within the recess 3 heretofore described with its lower end hearing against the upper edge of the movable jaw member.

From the description of the construction of the device, it will be obvious that when the movable gripping member is engaged by the fingers of the user, and moved toward the upper gripping member, that the rod will be drawn upwardly against thepressure of the coiled spring and the removable jaw will be' forced toward the stationary jaw at the lower end of the staff. The pull of the rod upon the movable aw is direct inasmuch as the power is applied to the angle portion thereof in alignment with the central bore of the staff, the pivot pin being displaced outwardly from said point of attachment of the rod which provides for a greater leverage upon the movable jaw than where such pivot is not so positioned.

Accordingly ample gripping force can be easily applied to engage the body of a weed at a point slightly beneath the surface of the ground and the entire weed may be removed from the garden, without much effort. Should it be desired to use the implement as a planting device, the plant may be engaged within the jaws and the plant set in position. The aws are then released and the earth is pressed about the plant at the point of insertion of the same by pressure of the foot of the operator.

The implement as has been indicated may be very cheaply constructed inasmuch as the principal metal parts are simple stampings and may be readily assembled upon the wooden staff. The drilling of the staff with the central bore and the counter-bored section thereof may be accomplished at a single operation.

The shaping of the stamped metal parts not only adapts the same for the uses indicated, but increases the strength of said parts by virtue of their special shape.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A garden implement comprising a tubular staff, a member formed of sheet metal providing a scoop-like jaw at its lower end, and an integral split collar with parallel flanges at its upper end, said flanges having aligned bolt holes, a plurality of bolts engaged through said flanges for clamping said collar about the lower end of said staff, a movable jaw member having a scoop-like shape at its lower end and having a flattened extension at its upper end received freely between said flanges and pivotally mounted on the lower of said bolts, a coil spring abutting the lower end of said staff and the upper portion of said movable jaw, and normally pressing said movable jaw outwardly, and an operating rod within said staff and passing through said spring and engaging directly with the flattened portion of said movable jaw opposite the pivot end thereof.

2. A garden implement comprising a tubular staff having a fixed and movable jaw each formed of sheet metal and being of scoopshape for either plant removal or plant inserting purposes, said fixed jaw being formed with an integral split collar having parallel flanges adjacent its upper ends, bolts through said flanges to clamp the same to said staff, said movable jaw having an extension formed of integral sheet metal tongues in fiat folded position adjacent its upper end, one end of said extension being freely received between said flanges of said fixed jaw and pivotally mounted on one of the securing bolts therefor, and the other end of said extension be ing directly engaged by an operating rod positioned centrally within said staff and extending to the upper end thereof.

Signed by me this 27th day of September,

THOMAS C. STRAVVN. 

